MTN Uganda has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Hima Cement to start preparations towards the launch of 5G in the latter’s operations. This partnership marks the first-ever consideration by a telecommunications company to deploy 5G in client’s operations and affirms MTN Uganda’s readiness to deploy this game changing technology in the country.
During the signing ceremony at the Hima factory in Kasese, Ali Monzer – the MTN Uganda Chief Technology and Information Officer (CTIO), together with technology partners Huawei, conducted a demonstration that showcased the kind of speeds and reduced latency that separates 5G from current technologies. In the right conditions, 5G can be 100 times faster than 4G, and relatedly, latency or the delay in the transmission of data between points can be reduced to a mere 5 milli seconds (from an average of 60 milli seconds on 4G).
Media were shown two use cases to demonstrate a near 5G experience. The first test involved real-time virtual reality training on EHS (Environmental Health and Safety), which ensures the safety of trainers and trainees as they work in accident-prone areas of the plant. The other test involved comparing the latency speeds between a 4G and 5G enabled surveillance camera. The results were clearly noticeable, with the near-5G network enabling near-instantaneous live feeds with minimal latency, while the 4G camera suffered from lags and delays.
The use of 5G technology is set to revolutionize the way businesses operate in Uganda, bringing greater efficiency and productivity to industries and commerce in general.
Sylvia Mulinge, the CEO of MTN Uganda, said, “today marks another big milestone in our journey to deploy a technology that will accelerate the realization of Uganda’s economic potential and unlock wealth creation opportunities for its people.”
Hima Cement was chosen as the perfect collaborating partner for future rollout because of the high usage of edge computing applications, smart mobility, remote infrastructure, and asset monitoring capabilities required in their business.
“With this partnership, we can see what’s possible with 5G technology which will accelerate our ‘Plants of Tomorrow’ program to find automated and data-driven solutions to make our industrial operations more sustainable,” the Country CEO Hima Cement, Jean-Michel Pons affirmed.
Gao Fei, the Managing Director Huawei Technologies (Uganda) Co. Ltd, said, “Today, we demonstrate some industrial use cases for 5G in Uganda. To Huawei, this is an indication of our long-term relationship with MTN Uganda and trust in our technology solutions. I trust that we shall continue walking this journey together because together we are unstoppable for A BETTER UGANDA.”
“MTN Uganda is ready, and the network is primed to roll out 5G as soon as we get the regulatory tools and approvals to do so”, concluded Sylvia. As part of its Ambition 2025 strategy, MTN Uganda continues to invest in its infrastructure and partnerships to ensure that it remains at the forefront of the telecommunications industry and revolutionize the way businesses operate by providing faster, more reliable connections to its customers.
